After recording all the necessary information, Teiichi put the booklet away.
Looking at the five or six food stalls still set up in front of him, Teiichi couldn't help but frown.
Was I wrong, and it wasn't the village chief who did it? Or was it that the village chief hadn't planned to take action this time?
Just as Teiichi was pondering this, he caught a glimpse of the village chief's door suddenly opening out of the corner of his eye.
The village chief emerged from the gate, his steps steady and powerful. His gaze searched every corner of the market, as if looking for something important.
Suddenly.
The slowly moving gaze stopped, as if it had found what it was looking for, and then it walked straight ahead.
Soon, the village chief slowly walked to Teiichi's side and said with a smile:
"Hahaha... Mr. Kato, I was just wondering whether I should go to the Matsumoto residence to look for you, so here you are!"
Upon hearing the village chief's words, Teiichi turned his previously casual glance into a serious look, and a grin spread across his face.
Interesting, so they've set their sights on me...
"Yes, village chief, what's up? Is there something you need?" Teiichi asked the village chief with a smile.
"You came here to conduct market research, right? I've been keeping that on my mind the whole time!"
"That's why I wanted to come and hear about your progress in person, and see what kind of impression you have of Shoura Island."
"I..." Teiichi was about to speak when he was interrupted by the village chief's enthusiastic words.
The village chief didn't seem to care about Teiichi's answer. He continued, "It's not convenient to talk here. We've prepared some of our best dishes at home. How about we eat and chat?"
Without waiting for a reply, the village chief grabbed Teiichi's hand and led her towards his home.
Teiichi didn't refuse when she heard this, and was thus led by the village chief to the village chief's house.
As soon as you enter the house, the aroma of food fills the air.
On the table in the hall, seven or eight delicious dishes, each with its own unique color, aroma, and flavor, were neatly arranged. In addition to the fresh seafood unique to Shoura Island, there were also carefully cooked pork and beef dishes, each one gleaming with an enticing sheen, making one's mouth water.
The blond-haired guy they'd seen during the day was sitting at the table. When the two of them came in, he quickly stood up.
"This is my son, Hayato!" The village chief pointed to the figure on the table and introduced him to Teiichi, then turned to his son and said, "This is Mr. Kato, who's here to do market research in our village. Hurry up and greet him!"
Upon hearing this, Hayato stood up and greeted Teiichi, " Mr. Kato!"
"Hello!" Teiichi smiled and nodded.
" Mr. Kato, please have a seat!" The village chief warmly greeted Teiichi, gesturing for him to sit beside him.
Teiichi nodded and sat down as instructed.
The village chief raised the glass that had already been poured on the table and said, "Come on, Mr. Kato, let me toast you first!"
Looking at the wine that had already been poured in front of him, Teiichi's eyes flickered, and he said with a smile:
"Village chief, let's wait a bit before drinking. I can't hold my liquor, and I'm afraid I'll get drunk too soon, which would be a waste of all the good food you've prepared. Besides, drinking on an empty stomach isn't good for your health. Let's eat some food first and chat about your village."
The village chief's eyes flickered. Seeing that the person in front of him didn't seem to be faking it, he put down his cup and nodded.
"Okay! Let's eat the vegetables first! Let's eat the vegetables first!"
Teiichi and picked up his chopsticks to eat first.
Seeing this, the village chief and Huang Mao also picked up their chopsticks and started eating.
The two discussed the situation in Shoura Village during the meal.
The village chief gave Teiichi introduction to the history, culture, and customs of Shoura Village, and the atmosphere at the dinner table became exceptionally harmonious.
The dishes had five flavors.
The village chief put down his chopsticks, raised his glass again, and a complex emotion flickered in his eyes. He turned to his son, Hayato, and said softly, "Come, Hayato, let's toast Mr. Kato together!"
After speaking, the village chief turned to Teiichi, forcing a smile, " Mr. Kato, we sincerely hope that you can put in a good word for our Shoura Island within your company, and expedite this cooperation so that our lives on the island can improve."
Teiichi smiled, and this time he didn't refuse. He raised his glass and said, "Cheers!"
With a crisp "thump," the wine glasses clinked gently together.
With Teiichi intention, the wine in the cup overflowed, spilling onto the table and into the cups of the village chief and his son.
Upon seeing this, the village chief's lips twitched involuntarily.
"Village chief, drink up!"
Teiichi, with a faint smile on his lips, raised his glass to the village chief.
Upon hearing this, the village chief turned his gaze toward Teiichi, and the two locked eyes in mid-air.
Did I expose myself?
A sudden realization dawned on the village chief. Although he wasn't sure where he had given himself away, his mind raced as he considered what to do next.
After thinking quickly for a while, the village chief decisively abandoned his original plan.
"Thump"
Hayato looked at his father, who had suddenly knelt down, and asked in bewilderment, "Dad, what are you doing?"
"Hurry up and kneel down before the master!"
The village chief roared at his son, then quickly turned to Teiichi and explained in a trembling voice.
"Sir... it's not our fault! We were forced into this!"
That ghost forced us to knock the person unconscious and send them over. If we didn't do it, that ghost would come and kill us!
Although his mind was still a little fuzzy, seeing his father's expression, Hayato realized that tonight's plan seemed to have been exposed. He looked in the direction of the Demon Slayer and subconsciously wanted to make a move.
Their eyes met in mid-air.
In an instant, the Hayato felt his body stiffen.
His body's instincts told him that the Demon Slayer before him was far more terrifying than any demon he had ever encountered!
My body began to tremble uncontrollably!
So he decisively knelt down as well, following his father's example.
"My lord! It really has nothing to do with us! We were forced into it! Yes, forced into it by a ghost! Blame the ghost!"
Teiichi sat there, looking at the two kneeling on the ground, his brows furrowing.
Both sides were misled by their own intelligence.
Teiichi the intelligence gathered, Dingyi believed it was simply a case of murder for money; the village chief, seeing the Demon Slayer arrive, assumed he knew there was a ghost in the area and was just looking for someone to help it, so when he realized his plan had been exposed, he decisively knelt down and begged for mercy.
"Forced by a ghost? How did that ghost find you?"
"That was one night ten years ago..."
"..." Teiichi, "Keep it short."
"Yes," the village chief replied.
"More than ten years ago, one night my wife, Hayato, and I went to Nagashima for fun, and it was a bit late when we got back."
"Then the ghost controlled the seawater and swept us off the bridge."
"My wife was eaten by that demon in order to save me and Hayato."
At this point, Murakami seemed to become sad, tears streaming uncontrollably from the corners of his eyes. He raised one hand to wipe away his tears as he spoke.
"After eating my Agatsuma, the ghost seemed to be full and didn't eat me directly."
"Instead, he threatened me, telling me to find someone within three months to smuggle someone off the bridge between Nagashima and Shoura Island at night."
"If I don't comply, he will not only kill me, but also all the other villagers on Shoura Island!"
"Then recently, I don't know why, he suddenly asked me to find someone to throw down to him to eat every month!"
The village chief became increasingly distressed as he spoke, and he shouted at the top of his lungs.
"Sir! We had no choice!"
"I don't want this to happen either, but if we don't do it, everyone in our village will die!"